Tag Archives: dance photography

Capturing the Movement: A Return to the Studio with Jocelyn

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It is always a treat when a talented dancer returns to my studio, but it is extra special when it’s someone as inspiring as Jocelyn. Two years ago, Jocelyn came in for her last dance portrait session, where we focused entirely on a classic, striking black-and-white aesthetic. Those images were absolutely top-notch, so the bar was set incredibly high for her return—but she did not disappoint!

This time around, we shifted our focus to mix business with pure creativity. We started by updating her professional headshots and then transitioned into capturing some deeply expressive, artistic dance portraits.

Big Dreams & Bright Futures

Beyond her incredible technique in front of the lens, Jocelyn is a powerhouse of ambition. Here is a little bit about what she is up to and where she is headed:

  • Rutgers Royalty: She is currently pursuing her passion strictly as a dance major at Rutgers University.
  • Future Entrepreneur: One of her biggest long-term goals is to open the doors to her very own dance studio someday.
  • Gameday Goals: Don’t be surprised if you see her under the stadium lights in the future—she hopes to eventually try out as an NFL cheerleader!

“Dancers are the athletes of God.” — Albert Einstein. Watching Jocelyn leap and hold extensions effortlessly makes you realize just how much strength goes into making art look this graceful.

Where to Find Her This Year

Jocelyn isn’t waiting until graduation to make her mark on the dance community. If you want to keep up with her journey or catch her in action, here is where she is spending her time:

  • Summer Classes: She is currently sharing her talent and teaching summer classes over at Vibe Dance Academy.
  • Fall Plans: As the new semester rolls around, she is looking to join the team at East Coast Dance in the fall, balancing her studio time as her college schedule permits.

Give her a follow on Instagram at @jocelyn.denne to see her journey unfold and catch a few behind-the-scenes glimpses of her incredible talent!

I’ve uploaded some of my absolute favorite images from our latest session below. Take a look and let me know which artistic portrait stands out to you the most!

A Star in the Making: Vasilia’s Audition-Worthy Powder Debut!

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If you’ve spent any time around Dabour Photography, you definitely know Lily, one of my incredible dance ambassadors. But during this powder session, it was time for Lily’s younger sister, almost nine-year-old Vasilia, to step into the spotlight!

Vasilia has made it no secret that she has big dreams of following in her sister’s footsteps and becoming a dance ambassador herself. In a lot of ways, having her join the powder experience felt like the ultimate “audition” session—and let me tell you, she did not disappoint!

Stepping Out of the Studio

While I’ve photographed Vasilia before during regular recital portraits at her dance studio, this was her very first time doing a specialized, creative session with me outside of that setting.

Even though she is young, it is incredibly clear that all those years of watching her older sisters dance have paid off. Vasilia brought serious focus, grace, and an understanding of movement that is way beyond her years.

A Change of Plans (and a Seamless Solo)

Initially, Vasilia was invited to the powder session to accompany her good friend Claire, who is one of my brand-new dance ambassadors this year.

Unfortunately, busy schedules got in the way, their calendars didn’t sync up, and they ended up having to attend separate sessions. Stepping into a big, dynamic shoot like this without your friend can be intimidating for any young dancer, but Vasilia didn’t miss a beat.

Because we already knew each other, she was incredibly comfortable with me and took direction like an absolute pro.

[INSERT GALLERY OF VASILIA’S INDIVIDUAL SHOTS HERE]

A Secret Weapon in Her Corner

Of course, it doesn’t hurt when your biggest cheerleader is also a dance expert! Vasilia’s mom—a local dance studio owner and highly experienced dance teacher—was right there by her side. Having her mom’s encouraging presence and expert eye nearby definitely added an extra layer of comfort and precision to the shoot.

Together, we captured some truly stunning, dynamic images of Vasilia that prove she is a force to be reckoned with in the dance world.

Will Vasilia Become an Ambassador?

She certainly proved she has the talent, the work ethic, and the star power to join the team. But is a spot in the ambassador program in her future?

You’ll just have to keep reading future blog posts to find out! 😉

Watch this space!

Scroll down to see some of my favorite shots of Vasilia proving she is ready for the big leagues in her beautiful powder debut!

[INSERT FAVORITE GALLERY IMAGES OF VASILIA HERE]

Happy Birthday, Sydney!

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Today we’re celebrating one of the most confident, expressive, and naturally charismatic dancers on our ambassador team — Sydney (@squidneykdancer). Even in her first year as an ambassador, she’s brought bold energy, creativity, and a spark that makes every session unforgettable.

From West Jersey Youth Ballet to specialty sessions like rain, powder, spooky portraits, and outdoor fabric work, Sydney steps into every concept with enthusiasm and fearlessness. Watching her grow as both a dancer and an artist has been such a joy.

Happy Birthday, Sydney! Here’s to another year of creativity, confidence, and standout moments in front of the camera.

Dance Ambassador Applications Close August 1

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Applications for the 2026–2027 Dabour Photography Dance Ambassador Program close on August 1. This program is designed for dancers who demonstrate strong technique, performance experience, and a commitment to creative collaboration. If you intend to apply, please review the information below and submit your application before the deadline.

Program Overview

The Dance Ambassador Program highlights dancers throughout the season through creative portrait sessions, specialty shoots, and featured content. Ambassadors represent Dabour Photography in a professional and positive manner and participate in collaborative projects that showcase artistry, confidence, and performance skill.

Who Should Apply

This program is best suited for dancers who:

  • Demonstrate solid technique and training
  • Have performance or competition experience
  • Communicate professionally and respond reliably
  • Are comfortable in front of the camera
  • Are interested in creative collaboration throughout the season

If you have questions about eligibility, expectations, or scheduling, please refer to the links provided on the application page.

What Ambassadors Receive

Ambassadors may participate in:

  • Creative portrait sessions
  • Seasonal specialty shoots
  • Priority scheduling
  • Featured ambassador spotlights
  • Collaborative projects and promotional opportunities

Details about session types, scheduling, and expectations are available through the information links on the application form.

Important Dates

  • Applications Close: August 1
  • Selections Announced: Early August
  • Season Begins: Late August / Early September

How to Apply

To submit your application, please use the link below: https://dabourphoto.com/ambassador-program

If you have questions about the program, requirements, or scheduling, please refer to the resources linked on the application page.

Closing Note

Thank you for your interest in the Dabour Photography Dance Ambassador Program. Applications will be reviewed after the deadline, and selected dancers will be notified directly.

Elevating the Art: Dance Ambassador Ellery’s Stunning Return to the Powder Studio

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When you have a dancer who is as passionate about the creative process as she is about the movement, magic is bound to happen. That is exactly what went down when one of my amazing dance ambassadors, Ellery (@its_ellevalentine), stepped back in front of my camera for her second go-round with the powder experience!

If Ellery looks familiar, it’s because she is no stranger to this setup. Last year, she braved the powder alongside some of her talented friends from the West Jersey Youth Ballet. But this year? Ellery wanted to up the ante, push her creative boundaries, and take her imagery to a whole new artistic level.

Preparation Meets Performance

To create truly breathtaking, high-fashion powdery art, we didn’t just wing it. Before the session, Ellery and I sat down to review potential poses, discuss angles, and plan out how to get the absolute most dynamic movement out of every cloud of powder.

That preparation paid off in a massive way.

[INSERT GALLERY OF ELLERY’S INDIVIDUAL SHOTS HERE]

Because we had a game plan, Ellery was able to focus entirely on her execution. She did her usual fantastic job—combining her technical ballet precision with dramatic, expressive shapes that made the powder look like an extension of her own body.

A Triple Threat: Dance, Theater, and Modeling

Watching Ellery work, it’s easy to see why her photos look like they belong in a high-fashion editorial. She is a truly versatile artist. Beyond being a gifted dancer, Ellery has a deep appreciation for modeling and is actively looking to pursue opportunities in the industry.

Her secret weapon? She is also no stranger to the theater stage!

That theatrical background shines through in her ability to project emotion, hold tension in a pose, and understand how to tell a story without saying a word. It makes her an absolute dream to collaborate with behind the camera.

The Masterpiece in Motion

Ellery, thank you for always bringing your “A-game,” your incredible work ethic, and your artistic vision to our sessions. You represent Dabour Photography so beautifully as an ambassador, and I am so proud of the art we created together during this session!

Ready to see Ellery’s jaw-dropping gallery?

Scroll down to see the results of our planning and passion in these highlights from her second powder experience!

[INSERT REMAINING FAVORITE GALLERY IMAGES OF ELLERY HERE]

A Birthday to Remember: Rhea’s Stunning Powder Dance Debut

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When you run a specialized photography studio, you get used to people asking for the impossible—like throwing colored powder around in the dead of winter!

That is exactly how my story with Rhea began. Rhea, a talented dancer who is brand new to Dabour Photography, found my powder experience on Google and reached out in the middle of a freezing winter, ready to leap into the studio.

Of course, because safety and comfort are top priorities, I had to gently explain that throwing fine powder is an outdoor-only experience reserved for the beautiful, warm summer months. Instead of losing enthusiasm, Rhea did something only a truly dedicated dancer would do: she patiently waited.

When I finally announced the warm-weather dates, she was the first to jump on the schedule. And as it turned out, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

The Ultimate Birthday Celebration

What made this highly anticipated session extra special? The date we locked in fell exactly on Rhea’s birthday!

Talk about dedication. Instead of a traditional party, Rhea and her family drove nearly an hour and a half to spend her special day leaping, spinning, and creating gorgeous, powdery art in front of my lens.

A vibrant dance portrait of a dancer named Rhea standing with her arms raised in a V-shape, surrounded by dramatic, cascading clouds of purple powder on the left and blue powder on the right against a black studio background.
A dramatic dance portrait of Rhea kneeling in a dark studio, executing a powerful hair flip that sends a massive, sweeping wave of vibrant green and blue powder into the air around her.
A theatrical powder dance portrait of a dancer named Rhea. She is captured mid-motion doing a powerful standing hair flip against a pitch-black background, creating a spectacular, glowing trail of bright green and blue powder that emphasizes the energy and trajectory of her movement.
A dramatic dance portrait of Rhea in a dark studio, striking a powerful, open pose with her arms and legs extended as an explosive cloud of vibrant orange powder bursts around her.
Power, grace, and vibrant color. Rhea’s dynamic orange and yellow powder shot from our July 2026 sessions. Photo by Dave Dabour.
A portrait of a smiling dancer in black dancewear looking back over her right shoulder with her hair mid-swish, standing on a studio floor covered in vibrant mixed powder.
The gorgeous, colorful floor is just as much a part of the magic! Photo by Dave Dabour.

For her very first time in front of my camera, Rhea was an absolute natural. She took direction beautifully, brought incredible energy, and trusted the process completely. The resulting images are powerful, elegant, and the perfect celebration of her talent.

Bringing the Dance Studio Family Together

Rhea had such an amazing time during her session that her mom was already looking toward the future before they even left. She asked if it would be possible to bring more dancers from Rhea’s home studio for a group experience.

My answer? An absolute, enthusiastic YES!

I love hosting group sessions. For any studios looking to do something similar, here is how we make it happen:

  • Gather the Crew: All it takes is a group of 6 or more dancers from the same studio.
  • Pick a Date: Reach out to me with a few date options that work for your group.
  • Build the Team: This experience is an incredible team-building activity for dancers. Watching each other leap, cheering each other on, and sharing the excitement of creating art together builds a bond that goes right back into the dance studio.

Welcome to the Dabour Photography Family, Rhea!

Rhea, thank you so much for choosing to spend your birthday creating magic with me. You did an incredible job, and I am so proud of the artwork we created together. I hope this was a birthday you’ll never forget, and I absolutely cannot wait to photograph you again in the future!

Powder, Passion, and Performance: An Artistic Dance Session with Lindsey, Alayna, and Eleanor

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When a client tells you they are willing to drive well over an hour just to get in front of your camera, it is the ultimate compliment. But when they keep coming back for more? That is when you know you’ve found “your people.”

That is exactly how I feel about Lindsey and her incredible family.

A Familiar Face (and a New Adventure!)

If you’ve been following the blog, Lindsey might look familiar to you. Last year, she killed it during her senior portrait session. She loved the experience so much that she came back later that year for dance portraits—specifically to brave my rain machine experience.

Ever since then, Lindsey had her eyes set on the next big adventure: The Powder Experience. She patiently waited for our schedules to align, and when the dates finally locked in, she didn’t come alone. This time, she brought reinforcements.

Double the Sisters, Triple the Talent

For this session, Lindsey brought along her younger sister, Alayna, and her incredibly talented friend, Eleanor.

Working with three dancers in a high-energy powder shoot can be a whirlwind, but these three absolute rockstars blew me away. The movement, the timing, and the sheer enthusiasm they brought to the studio made every single frame magic.

A dancer in motion against a dark background, surrounded by a dynamic cloud of yellow powder.
A dancer posing against a black background, framed by large plumes of pink, purple, and orange powder.
A dramatic dance portrait of a dancer in a dark studio, striking a dynamic pose that sends a sweeping wave of vibrant orange and yellow powder into the air.

Capturing the “Legendary” Sister Shot

While Eleanor, Lindsey, and Alayna all crushed their individual shots, we had to do something extra special for the sisters.

We spent some time coordinating, timing, and laughing our way through a few attempts to capture a truly legendary sister picture. The goal? A simultaneous, perfectly timed powder hair flip.

It takes serious coordination to get one dancer’s hair flip perfectly framed with powder—doing it with two at the exact same millisecond is next-level. But they nailed it.

A dynamic dance portrait of two sisters kneeling against a dark background, performing a simultaneous hair flip that creates an explosive, colorful arch of vibrant pink and yellow powder.
Powder dance portrait session on July 12, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography

No Retirement Allowed!

I think it’s safe to say the shoot was a massive success. In fact, Lindsey and Alayna’s mom was so thrilled with how everything turned out that she officially put her foot down regarding my career timeline:

“You absolutely cannot retire until you do Alayna’s senior portraits in a few years!”

Don’t worry, Mom—I’m not going anywhere! I am already counting down the years until Alayna is back in front of my lens for her own senior session.

Thank you so much to Lindsey, Alayna, and Eleanor for making the drive, bringing the energy, and helping me create some of my absolute favorite images of the year.

Want to see more of the action?

Scroll down to see some of my favorite highlights from this unforgettable, powder-filled day!

A dynamic dance portrait of a dancer mid-leap against a black backdrop, kicking up an explosive cloud of vibrant blue powder.
A dancer on pointe with yellow powder coming down
A dancer in a black leotard with green powder falling down
A dancer doing a hair flip with purple powder
A dancer doing a hair flip with blue and green powder
A dancer standing on one leg throwing white powder
A dancer doing a c jump and throwing pink powder
A dancer throwing blue powder while doing a ground pose
A dancer doing a c jump and having pink powder heading towards her
Two sisters doing a hair flip with powder at the same time
A dancer in passe' throwing orange powder
A dancer standing throwing pink and orange powder
A dramatic dance portrait of a dancer in a black leotard balancing on pointe in a dark studio, framed by an explosive, raining wave of bright yellow powder.
Powder dance portrait session on July 12, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
A dramatic dance portrait of a dancer in a black leotard balancing on pointe and bending forward in a dark studio, framed by an explosive cloud of bright green powder.

Behind the Lens: The Soft Power and Striking Poses of Sydney

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Dance ambassador Sydney performing a strong, balanced pose with arms outstretched, surrounded by a dramatic waterfall of blue powder during the 2026 Ambassador Powder Experience
Dance ambassador Sydney captured in an artistic, balanced pose during our 2026 Powder Experience. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography

There’s an old saying: “Speak softly but carry a big stick.” If I were to adapt that for the photography world, I’d say: Speak softly, but let your posing take center stage.

That perfectly describes Sydney, one of my returning dance ambassadors. While she might be quiet and soft-spoken in conversation, the moment she steps into the frame, her presence is absolutely commanding. She doesn’t just strike a pose; she owns it.

A Collaborative Creative Spirit

One of my favorite parts about working with Sydney is how collaborative she is. She is always incredibly open to any pose suggestions I throw her way, but she never arrives empty-handed. She always has a notebook’s worth of creative ideas of her own!

During our recent session with the color powder, we traded ideas back and forth, resulting in some truly breathtaking, dynamic action shots.

Close-up detail of a dance ambassador’s legs and ballet slippers, mid-movement, framed by a vibrant cloud of blue powder during the 2026 Ambassador Powder Experience
Powder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography

A Beautiful Sense of Déjà Vu

One specific pose Sydney was determined to capture was a close-up focusing entirely on her legs and feet en pointe, surrounded by the exploding powder.

As I was looking through the viewfinder, adjusting the lights, and creating the image, a massive wave of familiarity washed over me. I knew I had seen this exact composition before.

Then it hit me—years ago, I captured this exact same powerful, elegant pose with her older sister, Zoey! It was a beautiful, unexpected moment of dancer déjà vu. Talent and grace definitely run deep in this family.

Whether she is curled up in a quiet, intense moment of focus or exploding through the air, Sydney continues to be an absolute joy to photograph.

What do you think of Sydney’s latest session? Let me know your favorite shot in the comments below!

Dance ambassador Sydney performing a dramatic, back-bending pose inside a vibrant, swirling cloud of blue powder during the 2026 Ambassador Powder Experience
Dance ambassador performing a controlled, one-handed handstand in a studio, surrounded by a dramatic, explosive burst of yellow and white powder during the 2026 Ambassador Powder Experience.
Dance ambassador Sydney in a contemplative, curled pose, enveloped by a soft, ethereal cloud of purple powder during the 2026 Powder Experience
Dance ambassador Sydney performing a strong, balanced pose with arms outstretched, surrounded by a dramatic waterfall of blue powder during the 2026 Ambassador Powder Experience
Dance ambassador Sydney captured in an artistic, balanced pose during our 2026 Powder Experience. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography
Close-up detail of a dance ambassador’s legs and ballet slippers, mid-movement, framed by a vibrant cloud of blue powder during the 2026 Ambassador Powder Experience
Powder dance portrait session with four of my dance ambassadors on July 8, 2026. Photo by DAVE DABOUR Photography

Happy Birthday, Ellery!

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Today we’re celebrating one of the brightest, most expressive artists on our ambassador team — Ellery (@its_ellevalentine). Even though this is her first year as an ambassador, she stepped in front of my camera with confidence from day one. Every session with her feels effortless, creative, and full of personality.

From West Jersey Youth Ballet to SKIT, from studio portraits to outdoor adventures, Ellery brings a spark that makes every image stand out. Watching her grow as both a dancer and a performer has been a joy.

Happy Birthday, Ellery! Here’s to another year of artistry, confidence, and unforgettable creative moments.

Happy Birthday, Emma!

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Today we’re celebrating one of the most flexible, expressive, and effortlessly dynamic dancers on our ambassador team — Emma (@extendandelevate). Even though this is her first year as an ambassador, she’s been in front of my camera for years, and every session with her is a mix of artistry, personality, and pure creative fun.

From her incredible flexibility to her ability to switch from elegant to sassy in a heartbeat, Emma brings something special to every portrait. Her Clara portraits from The Nutcracker were a standout this year, and I’m excited for all the creative moments still ahead.

Happy Birthday, Emma! Here’s to another year of growth, expression, and beautiful dance portraits together.